Circuit breaker



I H w 0 4 5 Z 2 .n f W 5 m a 4 M\ a m? m 0 m4! o M e n 2 5 y e w i 5 v 9 iii-iii! L? Y a 5 B S DETTAR CIRCUIT BREAKER Filed Jan. 2, 1936 Jan. 4, 1938.

Patented Jan. 4, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENTv OFFICE 12 Claims.

This invention relates to circuit breakers and in particular to cam action rapid break circuit breakers adapted for use in combination with electrical fuel pumps and the like.

One object of this invention is to provide a positive rapid break dual cam action circuit breaker.

Another object of this invention is to provide a positive rapid break circuit breaker forelectric solenoid operated fuel pumps and the like.

Another object of this invention is to provide a positive rapid break delayed cam action circuit breaker.

Another object of this invention is to provide a positive rapid break delayed solenoid actuated cam action circuit breaker.

Another object of this invention is to provide a positive rapid break delayed cam action circuit breaker having dual self cleaning contactors.

Another object of this invention is to provide a positive rapid break dual cam action circuit breaker actuated by the power stroke of a solenoid with the rapid break action delayed in respect to the power stroke of the solenoid.

Another object of this invention is to provide, in combination with a fuel pump, a positive rapid break dual cam action circuit breaker in which the rapid break is delayed with respect to the electrical power stroke of the fuel pump.

Another object of this invention is to provide a positive rapid break circuit breaker which is inexpensive to construct and assemble in operating relationship to a solenoid actuated mechanism such as an electrical fuel pump or the like.

Another object of this invention is to provide, in combination with a solenoid operated fuelpump, a positive rapid break circuit breaker which may be readily removed and replaced without interfering with the pump mechanism.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent by reference to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan View of a preferred embodiment of the invention mounted on and operably connected to a solenoid type electrical fuel pump.

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 showing a circuit breaker embodying the invention'with its contacts closed at the beginning of the electrical power stroke of a solenoid operated fuel pump; the complete fuel pump valve mechanism not being shown inasmuch as it is not necessary to fully disclose the invention.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary cross sectional view similar to Fig. 2 showing the circuit breaker embodying the invention with its contacts still closed after a portion of the electrical power stroke of the fuel pump has been completed.

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view similar to Fig. 2 showing the circuit breaker embodying the invention with its contacts open after the electrical power stroke of the fuel pump has been completed.

Figs. 5 and 6 show a bevel type cam rapid break means which may be used in place of the roller type cam rapid break means disclosed in Figs. 2, 3, and 4.

Referring now to the drawing wherein like numerals refer to like and corresponding parts throughout the several views, the embodiment of the invention disclosed in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive is shown in combination with and operably connected to a solenoid type electrical fuel pump.

The base ID of the diaphragm type solenoid operated fuel pump embodying the invention is provided with the usual intake port II and discharge port I 2, an intake valve and a discharge valve, the said intake valve, not shown, being similar in construction to the discharge valve shown in Fig. 2. The said discharge valve comprises a seat I3 pressed or otherwise secured in an aperture provided in the bottom of a centrally disposed pumping'chamber l4 partially formed in the top of the pump base l0, the said seat l3 having a discharge opening l5 therethrough.. A valve disc 5 is constantly urged by the compressive action of the spring I! against the valve seat ill for closing the discharge opening I5 during the suction stroke of the said fuel pump.

A solenoid unit having a base l8 which forms the upper portion of the said centrally disposed pumping chamber I4 is secured to the top of the pump base I 0 by suitable machine screws 19 with a suitable pump diaphragm 20 therebetween. The said solenoid base I8 has a centrally disposed sleeve 2| formed therein around which the solenoid coil 22 is wound and through which the core or plunger 23 reciprocates. The solenoid unit is preferably encased in an annular dome type housing 24 secured in any suitable manner to the periphery of the said base I 8.

The plunger 23 is preferably centrally bored and counterbored to receive a shouldered shaft 25 which extends through the bottom of the said plunger 23 and depends through the diaphragm 20. The said diaphragm 20 is secured to the plunger 23 by means of the washer 26 and the nut 21 threaded on the depending end of the shaft 25. The said nut 2'! also serves to secure the said shaft 25 to and through the plunger 23.

The top of the plunger 23 being counterbored larger than the shaft accommodates a compression spring 28 which acts against a centrally disposed guide and stop 23 secured in the top of the solenoid unit within the housing 24. The guide and stop 28 also serves to center the upper end of the solenoid coil 22. A centrally disposed aperture through the guide 23 and the housing 24 permits the shaft 25 to extend and reciprocate therethrough.

I'm the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawing, the compression spring 28 moves the plunger 23 downward during the mechanical discharge stroke of the pump after the solenoid coil 22 lifts the plunger 23 and compresses the spring 28 during the electrical suction stroke of the pump. When the discharge stroke of the pump is completed it is necessary to energize the solenoid coil 22, and it is highly desirable to keep the said solenoid coil energized during a portion of the electrical suction stroke of the plunger 23, then quickly break the electrical circuit and deenergize the solenoid coil 22, after which the inertia of the moving parts provides the energy for completing the suction stroke of the plunger 23.

This invention accomplishes with mechanical three cam actions a positive making and breaking means for energizing and de-energizing the solenoid 22, which, in combination with the fuel pump disclosed therewith provides a sturdy reliable and inexpensive fuel pump not heretofore available for constant service with minimum repairs. The three mechanical cam actions referred to are one action for making and two actions for breaking the solenoid circuit, all of which are mechanically timed in respect to the intake anddischarge stroke of the fuel pump as governed by the stroke of the plunger 23 and the shaft 25.

The circuit breaker comprises a substantially rectangular horizontally disposed hollow guide having an inverted U-shaped top and sides 30 and a generally S-shaped bottom and end 3|, the latter forming an upper horizontally disposed arm 32 and a lower horizontally disposed arm 33, both arms 32 and 33 being in spaced relation to the said rectangular hollow guide. A horizontally disposed rectangular slide 34 having a slotted aperture 35 therethrough is slideably engaged in the said hollow guide when the said hollow guide is rigidly secured to the upper shouldered end of the shaft 25 by means of the nuts 38 and the lock washer 31, the said shaft 25 extending through the aperture 35 in the said rectangular slide 34 with sufflcient clearance to permit the said slide to reciprocate freely within the said rectangular hollow guide.

A cam 38 having its contact surfaces diagonally disposed with respect to the slide 34 is secured to the top of the housing 24 and extends through apertures 38 and 48 suitably provided through the top 38 and bottom 3| of the said hollow guide. The horizontally disposed slide 34 is provided with a diagonal aperture 4| therethrough which furnishes the said slide 34 with spaced cam contact surfaces complementary to the said diagonally disposed cam 38. The movement of the slide 34 by the cam 38 when the circuit breaker mounted on the shaft 25 reciprocates vertically with respect to the said cam 38 accomplishes the one circuit making cam action and the first of the two circuit breaking cam actions hereinbefore mentioned.

The vertically disposed circuit breaker contactor arm 42 is mounted for vertical reciprocating movement through the top 38 and the bottom 3| of the horizontally disposed hollow guide and is suitably slotted at 43 for reciprocating movement over the tongued end 44 of the rectangular slide 34. The tongued end 44 of the rectangular slide 34 permits the said slide 34 to move horizontally in respect to the slotted aperture 43 in the contactor arm 42. A cam follower 45 is preferably journaled in the slot 43 of the contactor arm 42 for supporting the said contactor arm 42 on the tongued end 44 of the horizontally disposed slide 34. The top'of the tongued end 44 of the said slide 34 is preferably formed as shown in Figs. 2,

3, and 4 to serve as a sliding cam against which the cam follower 45 is constantly urged by the downward pressure of the leaf spring 48 secured to the upper horizontally disposed arm 32 by a machine screw 41 or the like acting on the top of the circuit breaker contactor arm 42. Thus the second of the two circuit breaking cam actions hereinbefore mentioned is accomplished.

The movable circuit breaker contactor arm 42 is preferably provided with dual contact points 48 mounted on an L-shaped leaf spring 48 secured to an insulation pad 58 by means of the rivet 5|, the said insulation pad 50 being secured to the said movable arm 42 by such means as the countersunk machine screw 52. The. stationary horizontally disposed contactor arm 33 is provided with stationary contact points 53 located in such a manner as to permit the movable contact points 48 to register therewith when the contactor arm 42 is lifted by the cam mechanism hereinbefore described. The said contactors 48 and 53 are self cleaning in respect to each other by virtue of a slight horizontal wiping action therebetween created when the contact points 48 mounted on the free ends of the L-shaped leaf spring 43 move around a short are as the said contactors 48 and 53 are brought together and moved apart by the vertical movement of the contactor 42.

As diagrammatically indicated in Fig. 2, the fuel pump solenoid circuit may be energized by current from a battery 54 connected to the solenoid coil 22 which in turn is preferably connected to the contact points 48 at the rivet 5|, the said circuit being completed when contact points 48 are brought into registry with contact points 53 which are grounded as is the battery 54.

Referring now to Fig. 2 which shows the circuit breaker with its contacts closed at the beginning of the electrical power suction stroke of the fuel pump during which the solenoid 22 moves the plunger 23 and the shaft 25 carrying the circuit breaker upward, the upward movement of the circuit breaker causes the slide 34 to be moved from its position indicated in Fig. 2 to the position indicated in Fig. 3 by the cam 38 acting thereon. The cam 38 moves the said slide 34 until the cam follower 45 in the contactor arm 42 slightly passes the sloping portion of the cam formed on the top of the tongued end 44 of the said slide 34, at which point the said cam follower and movable contactor arm 42 jump down under the action of the leaf spring 45 into the position indicated in Fig. 4, the said downward movement of the cam follower 45 causing the slide 34 to move to the position indicated in Fig. 4 by pressure exerted on the arcuate portion of the said cam formed on the top of the said tongued end 44 of the slide 34. ment of the contactor arm 42 breaks the circuit with an extremely rapid break action to the position indicated in Fig. 4.

After the electrical power suction stroke of the The said jumping movew fuel pump is completed, the spring discharge stroke of the pump is accomplished by the expansion of the spring 28 which was compressed during the electrical power suction stroke of the said pump. The spring 28 moves the plunger 23 and the shaft carrying the circuit breaker downward from the position shown in Fig. 4 to the position shown in Fig. 2, during which movement the diagonally disposed cam 38 urges the slide 34 into the position shown in Fig. 2, and the contactors 48 and 53 are thereby brought together into the position indicated in Fig. 2.

Instead of a roller type cam follower 45 in the contactor arm 42 and an arcuate cam surface as provided on the tongued end 44 of the slide 34, other types of cams and cam followers may be used to provide the extremely rapid break action as hereinbefore described such as the beveled cam formed on the tongued end 440 of the slide 340 and the beveled cam follower 450 formed in the contactor arm 420 as shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

The simplicity of construction of the invention,

the elimination of unnecessary parts, the positive rapid break action of the contactor and the self cleaning ability of the contact points all tend toward economy in manufacture, long operation without mechanical and electrical breakdown and freedom from servicing during use.

Although but two specific embodiments of the invention have been disclosed and described herein, it will be observed that various changes including the size, shape, arrangement and details of the various parts thereof may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and it is not intended to limit the scope thereof other than by the terms of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a device of the class described, a solenoid including a reciprocating plunger, a guide mounted on said plunger, a slide in said guide, a cam on the housing of said solenoid adapted to cooperate with said slide and impart a sliding movement thereto during the reciprocation of said plunger, a stationary contactor on said guide, a second cam formed on said slide, a movable contactor adapted to follow said second cam into and out of contact with said stationary contactor, and means for imparting rapid break action to said contactors.

2. In a device of the class described, a solenoid including a reciprocating plunger, a guide mounted on said plunger, a slide in said guide, a cam on the housing of said solenoid adapted to cooperate with said slide and impart a delayed sliding movement thereto during the reciprocation of said plunger, a stationary contactor on said guide, a second cam formed on said slide, a movable contactor adapted to follow said second cam into and out of contact with said stationary contactor, and means for imparting rapid break action to said contactors.

3. In a device of the class described, a solenoid including a reciprocating plunger, a guide mounted on said plunger, a slide in said guide, a cam on the housing of said solenoid adapted to cooperate with said slide and impart a delayed sliding movement thereto during the reciprocation of said plunger, a stationary contactor on said guide, a second cam formed on said slide, a movable contactor adapted to follow said second cam into and out of contact with said stationary contactor, and means independent of said first mentioned cam for imparting rapid break action to said contactors.

4. In combination with a solenoid having a reciprocating plunger, a shaft mounted on said plunger, a guide on said shaft, a slide in said guide, a stationary cam on the solenoid housing adapted to impart sliding movement to said slide as said slide reciprocates in respect thereto, a stationary contactor on base of said guide, a movable contactor arm mounted through said guide, a contactor on said arm, a second cam formed on said slide, a cam follower in said contactor arm, and spring means for causing said cam follower to follow said second cam whereby the said movable contactor is brought into and out of contact with the stationary contactor to regulate the power stroke of said solenoid.

5. In combination with a solenoid having a reciprocating plunger, a shaft mounted on said plunger, a guide on said shaft, a slide in said guide, a stationary cam on' the solenoid housing adapted to impart delayed sliding movement to said slide as said slide rcciprocates in respect thereto, a stationary contactor on base of said guide, a movable contactor arm mounted through said guide, a contactor on said arm, a second cam formed on said slide, a cam follower in said contactor arm, and spring means for causing said cam follower to follow said second cam whereby the said movable cont-actor is brought into and out of contact with the stationary contactor to regulate the power stroke of said solenoid.

6. In combination with a solenoid having a reciprocating plunger, a shaft mounted on said plunger, a guide on said shaft, a slide in said guide, a stationary cam on the solenoid housing adapted to impart delayed sliding movement to said slide as said slide reciprocates in respect thereto, a stationary contactor on base of said guide, a movable co'ntactor arm mounted through said guide, a contactor on said arm, a second cam formed on said slide, a cam follower in said contactor arm, and spring means for causing said cam follower to follow said second cam whereby the said movable contactor is brought into and out of contact with the stationary contactor to regulate the power stroke of said solenoid, said second cam and spring means adapted to impart a rapid break action to said contactor.

7. In a solenoid operated device, a solenoid including a reciprocating plunger, a guide mounted on said plunger, a slide in said guide, a cam on the housing of said solenoid adapted to cooperate with said slide and impart a delayed sliding movement thereto during the reciprocation of said plunger, a stationary contactor on said guide, a second cam formed on said slide, a movable contactor adapted to follow said second cam into and out of contact with said stationary contactor, a short radius leaf spring. mounting for one of said contactors adapted to create a wiping action between said contactors when brought into and out of contact with each other, and means for imparting rapid break action to said contactors.

8. In a solenoid operated device, a solenoid including a reciprocating plunger, a guide mounted on said plunger, a slide in said guide, a cam on the housing of said solenoid adapted to cooperate with said slide and impart a delayed sliding movement thereto during the reciprocation of said plunger, a stationary contactor on said guide, a second cam formed on said slide, a movable contactor adapted to follow said second cam into and out of contact with said stationary contactor, a short radius leaf spring mounting for one of said contactors adapted to create a wiping action between said contactors when brought into and out of contact with each other, and means independent of said first mentioned cam for imparting rapid break action to said contactors.

9. A circuit breaker for solenoid operated devices, a solenoid including a reciprocating plunger, a stationary cam fixed in respect to said solenoid, a guide mounted on said plunger, a second cam slidably mounted in said guide adapted to be reciprocated by said stationary cam as the said plunger reciprocates, a stationary contactor on said guide, and a movable contactor adapted to be brought into and out of contact with said stationary contactor by said cams, said second cam adapted to impart rapid break action to said contactors.

10. A circuit breaker for solenoid operated devices, a solenoid including a reciprocating plunger, a stationary cam fixed in respect to said solenoid, a guide mounted on said plunger, a second cam slidably mounted in said guide adapted to be reciprocated by said stationary cam by and in delayed respect to the reciprocation of said plunger as the said plunger reciprocates, a stationary contactor on said guide, and a movable contactor adapted to be brought into and out of contact with said sationary contactor by said cams, said second cam adapted to impart rapid break action to said contactors.

11. In a circuit breaker for solenoid operated devices, a solenoid including a reciprocating plunger, stationary and movable contactor-s, a stationary cam, a slide mounted on the plunger of the solenoid movable by said stationary cam during the reciprocation of said plunger, a second cam formed on said slide, the said movable contactor adapted to be brought into and out of contact with said stationary contactor by said cams, the said second cam adapted to impart rapid break action to said contactors.

12. In a circuit breaker for solenoid operated devices, a solenoid including a reciprocating plunger, stationary and movable contactors, a stationary cam, a slide mounted on the plunger of the solenoid movable by said stationary cam during the reciprocation of said plunger, a second cam formed on said slide, the said movable contactor adapted to be brought into and out of contact with said stationary contactor by the said cams in delayed cooperation with the reciprocation of the said plunger, the said second cam adapted to'impart rapid break action to said contactors.

STEVE DETTAR. 

